When the allegations first arose up in July 2013, Roskam’s spokeswoman, Stephanie Kittredge, said the congressman “fully complied with all laws, rules and procedures related” to the Taiwan trip, adding that his trip “was vetted and approved by the House Ethics Committee.”<ref name="ethics"/>

When the allegations first arose up in July 2013, Roskam’s spokeswoman, Stephanie Kittredge, said the congressman “fully complied with all laws, rules and procedures related” to the Taiwan trip, adding that his trip “was vetted and approved by the House Ethics Committee.”<ref name="ethics"/>

−

===Specific votes===

+

===Legislative actions===

====Fiscal Cliff====

====Fiscal Cliff====

{{Oppose vote}}

{{Oppose vote}}

Roskam voted against the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. He was 1 of 151 Republicans that voted against the bill. The bill was passed in the House by a 257 - 167 vote on January 1, 2013.<ref>[http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2012/roll659.xml ''U.S. House'' "Roll Call Vote on the Fiscal Cliff" Accessed January 4, 2013.]</ref>

Roskam voted against the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. He was 1 of 151 Republicans that voted against the bill. The bill was passed in the House by a 257 - 167 vote on January 1, 2013.<ref>[http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2012/roll659.xml ''U.S. House'' "Roll Call Vote on the Fiscal Cliff" Accessed January 4, 2013.]</ref>

The House Ethics Committee announced in early September 2013 that it would continue investigations into three lawmakers, including Roskam.[3] The committee did not take the extra step of creating special investigative committees to pursue the inquiries.[3] A preliminary investigation found that Roskam and his wife accepted a trip to Taiwan in 2011 worth about $25,000 that was organized and conducted by the government of Taiwan and could constitute an “impermissible gift.”[3]

Roskam is set to run for re-election to the U.S. House in 2014. If he runs, he will seek the Republican nomination in the primary election. The general election took place November 4, 2014.

Based on analysis of multiple outside rankings, Roskam is an average Republican member of Congress, meaning he will vote with the Republican Party on the majority of bills.

Biography

Roskam was born and raised in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. [1] Roskam graduated from Glenbard West High School, where he was a varsity athlete and school leader. Later, after graduating from the University of Illinois and the Illinois Institute of Technology Law School, Peter served as a staffer for his predecessor, Congressman Henry Hyde. [1]

Issues

Controversy

House Ethics Committee investigation

The House Ethics Committee announced in early September 2013 that it would continue investigations into three lawmakers, including Roskam.[3] The committee did not take the extra step of creating special investigative committees to pursue the inquiries.[3]

An investigation by the Office of Congressional Ethics found that Roskam and his wife accepted a trip to Taiwan in 2011 worth about $25,000 that was organized and conducted by the government of Taiwan and could constitute an “impermissible gift.”[3]

Official travel rules prohibit lawmakers from accepting trips from foreign governments, unless they are allowed under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act, known as Mecea. The report also found, “because Representative Roskam’s wife traveled with him to Taiwan, the trip could not have been conducted under Mecea.”[3]

Roskam responded to the investigation by saying that he believed that the trip was being financed by the Chinese Culture University, but the ethics office report found that it was organized and paid for by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office, which it described as “Taiwan’s de facto embassy.”[3]

When the allegations first arose up in July 2013, Roskam’s spokeswoman, Stephanie Kittredge, said the congressman “fully complied with all laws, rules and procedures related” to the Taiwan trip, adding that his trip “was vetted and approved by the House Ethics Committee.”[3]

Legislative actions

Fiscal Cliff

Roskam voted against the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. He was 1 of 151 Republicans that voted against the bill. The bill was passed in the House by a 257 - 167 vote on January 1, 2013.[6]

113th Congress

The second session of the 113th Congress enacted into law 114 out of the 3,036 introduced bills (3.8 percent). Comparatively, the 112th Congress had 4.2 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the second session.[7] For more information pertaining to Roskam's voting record in the 113th Congress, please see the below sections.[8]

National security

Department of Homeland Security Appropriations

Roskam voted in favor of HR 2217 - the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2014. The bill passed the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 245 - 182 and was largely along party lines.[9]

Keystone Pipeline Amendment

Roskam voted against House Amendment 69, which would have amended HR 3 to "require that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, conduct a study of the vulnerabilities of the Keystone XL pipeline to a terrorist attack and certify that necessary protections have been put in place." The amendment failed on May 22, 2013, with a vote of 176 - 239 and was largely along party lines.[9]

Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act

Roskam voted in favor of HR 624 - the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act. The bill passed the House on April 18, 2013, with a vote of 288 - 127. The bill would allow federal intelligence agencies to share cybersecurity intelligence and information with private entities and utilities.[10] The bill was largely supported by Republicans but divided the Democratic Party.[9]

National Defense Authorization Act

Roskam voted in support of HR 1960 - the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014. The bill passed the House on June 14, 2013, with a vote of 315 - 108. Both parties were somewhat divided on the vote.[9]

Economy

Immigration

Morton Memos Enforcement Prohibition

Roskam voted in favor of House Amendment 136 - Prohibits the Enforcement of the Immigration Executive Order. The amendment was adopted by the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 224 - 201. The purpose of the amendment as stated on the official text is to "prohibit the use of funds to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the Morton Memos." These memos would have granted administrative amnesty to certain illegal aliens residing in the United States. The vote largely followed party lines.[9]

Healthcare

Health Care Reform Rules

Roskam voted in favor of House Amendment 450 - Requires Congressional Approval for Any Rules Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The amendment was adopted by the House on August 2, 2013, with a vote of 227-185. The amendment requires all changes to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act be approved by Congress before taking effect. The vote was largely along party lines.[9]

Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act

Roskam voted in favor of HR 2009 - Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act of 2013. The bill passed through the House on August 2, 2013, with a vote of 232-185. The bill would prevent the IRS and Treasury Secretary from enforcing the powers provided to them in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The vote largely followed party lines.[9]

Social issues

Amash amendment

Roskam voted against House Amendment 413 - Prohibits the National Security Agency from Collecting Records Under the Patriot Act. The amendment failed on July 4, 2013, by a vote of 205-217. The amendment would have prohibited the collection of records by the National Security Agency under the Patriot Act. Both parties were split on the vote.[9]

Campaign donors

Comprehensive donor information for Roskam is available dating back to 2006. Based on available campaign finance records, Roskam raised a total of $11,763,266 during that time period. This information was last updated on April 5, 2013.[16]

2012

Breakdown of the source of Roskam's campaign funds before the 2012 election.

Roskam won re-election to the U.S. House in 2012. During that election cycle, Roskam's campaign committee raised a total of $3,277,931 and spent $3,406,887.[20] This is less than the average $1.5 million spent by House winners in 2012.[21]

Lifetime missed votes

According to the website GovTrack, Roskam missed 118 of 5,226 roll call votes from Jan 2007 to Mar 2013. This amounts to 2.3%, which is worse than the median of 2.2% among current congressional representatives as of March 2013.[28]

Congressional staff salaries

2011

The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Roskam paid his congressional staff a total of $802,755 in 2011. He ranks 51st on the list of the lowest paid Republican representative staff salaries and ranks 58th overall of the lowest paid representative staff salaries in 2011. Overall, Illinois ranks 46th in average salary for representative staff. The average U.S. House of Representatives congressional staff was paid $954,912.20 in fiscal year 2011.[29]

Staff bonuses

According to an analysis by CNN, Roskam was one of nearly 25 percent of House members who gave their staff bonuses in 2012. Roskam's staff was given an apparent $3,068.50 in bonus money.[30]

Net worth

2011

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Roskam's net worth as of 2011 was estimated between $475,053 and $1,652,000. That averages to $1,063,526, which is lower than the average net worth of Republican representatives in 2011 of $7,859,232. His average net worth increased by 2.21% from 2010.[31]

2010

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Roskam's net worth as of 2010 was estimated between $491,046 and $1,590,000. That averages to $1,040,523, which is lower than the average net worth of Republican representatives in 2010 of $7,561,133.[32]